Muscle spasticity is a common complication characterized by increased muscle stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms, often leading to difficulties with movement and daily activities. This condition can develop soon after a stroke, with symptoms potentially appearing within the first few days or week.
At Source Healthcare, our team of highly experienced interventional specialists are participating in cutting-edge clinical trials to help mitigate symptoms of muscle spasticity.
Spasticity, a type of muscle stiffness, is a component of the upper motor neuron syndrome that can occur after a stroke. It arises from damage to the brain areas that control muscle tone and movement. This damage can disrupt the normal balance of signals controlling muscle activity, leading to increased muscle stiffness and involuntary contractions.
Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing damage to brain tissue. When the stroke affects the motor pathways (the areas of the brain that control muscle movement), it can lead to spasticity. While stroke is a primary cause, upper limb spasticity can also result from other conditions like traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries.
Spasticity and contracture are both conditions affecting muscle and joint movement, but they represent distinct issues. Spasticity deals with involuntary muscle stiffness caused by nerve misfiring. Contracture defines the permanent shortening of soft-tissue which decreases the maximum range of motion.
With no current cures for spasticity, common treatments such as physical therapy and medication aim to provide temporary relief of symptoms. Here at Source Healthcare, our physicians utilize innovative experimental techniques to tackle the functional drawbacks associated with spasticity. Our latest clinical trial harnesses the potential of cryotherapy to calm the nerves affecting spasticity in the upper limbs and ideally restore quality of life.
Upper limb spasticity is a condition where the muscles of the arms and hands become tense and overactive, resulting in limited movement and an inability to perform basic daily tasks. People suffering from upper limb spasticity experience a number of symptoms, including muscle stiffness, limited movement, inability to relax muscles, pain, changes in limb position, and muscle spasms. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and treatments will vary based on the patient’s specific needs.
Although there are multiple causes for upper limb spasticity, the most common cause is a stroke. Often, signals from the brain to the muscles are disrupted due to damage caused to motor pathways after a stroke, resulting in spasticity. Other conditions causing upper limb spasticity include traumatic brain injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and problems with the spinal cord.
While most people are aware of the use of Botox as a cosmetic treatment, its use as a treatment for patients suffering from upper limb spasticity is less widely known. Botox Injections are FDA approved for the treatment of upper limb spasticity, offering patients relief from their symptoms. Botox injections block nerve receptors in the muscles, causing them to relax while alleviating pain. Although Botox is an effective treatment for upper limb spasticity, it can take time for a patient to feel results. Studies show that patients who received regular Botox treatments, with the help of physical and occupational therapy, showed improved upper limb function after two years of continual treatment. Botox injections are not systemic and therefore can treat upper limb spasticity without risking the development of serious side effects.
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